Playing-card case



Feb. 17, 1925.

C. E. ALBERT PLAYING CARD CASE Filed March 2,

Clifford Alien Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLIFFORD E. ALBERT, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A$SIGNOB TO THE UNITED STATES PLAYING CARD COMPANY, OF NORWOGI), OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

PLAYINGCARD CASE.

Application filed March 2, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLIFFORD E. ALBERT, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have inj; engaged in games such as whist, whereby unusual hands may be held intact to be re played, and so that such hands may be submitted to other players for their attention. To this end, my invention is such that the whole deck of cards may be held intact, and the several hands be retained separate and distinct.

An object of my invent-ion is to provide a device that may be employed as heretofore explained.

Another object of my invention is to provide an unique holding means or case, that. will permit ready insertion into or removal from itself, any or all, of the individual hands of cards.

These and other objects are attained by means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an extended case, embodying my invention, parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing in perspective, an extended case, embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, showingin perspective, a contracted case, embodying my invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of case embodying my invention.

My invention comprises a series of pockets 4t, 5, 6 and 7 connected together in such way that they may be extended or spaced from one another in order that cards may be easily and freely inserted into and withdrawn from any pocket, without interfering with the cards in the other pockets.

All of the pockets are substantially similar in shape and form, each comprising a front 8, a back 9, sides 10 and 11 and a bottom 12. The front and back are notched at the center of their upper edges, whereby ready access may be had to and a firm grip secured on the cards contained in the pocket,

Serial No. 540,638.

in order to remove the cards from the pocket. There are generally four players to a card game of the kind referred to, and so I have provided four pockets, the end pockets at. and 7 and the intermediate pockets 5 and 6. The fronts of the pockets fl, 5 and 6 are similar, each having a pair of lugs 13 and 14 struck therefrom, the lugs having free sides and top and being secured along their lower edges upon the fronts of their respective pockets, the connection along said lower edges forming a hinge 15 upon which the lugs may turn. The backs of pockets 5, 6 and 7 are similar, each having a pair of lugs 16 and 17, hingedly mounted at 18 upon the backs as are the lugs 13 and 14, except that the lugs 16 and 17 are free along their lower edges and hinged along their upper edges. The upper lugs on the opposed faces of adjacent pockets are secured upon one another as shown, by any suitable means such as being glued together. In like manner are the lower lugs on opposed faces of adjacent pockets secured to one another. By reference to Fig. 3 it is apparent that the lugs on each pocket are free to enter the slots 23 in the fronts and backs of the pockets, each lug being adapted to lie in its respective slot or opening 23, formed in such pockets when striking the lugs from the. pockets. The pockets may therefore assume a position wherein the top edges of all the pockets lie in the same plane or line, and a position wherein the pockets are positioned in a stepped relation, the forward pockets lying below the rearward pockets, The rear pocket 4 may have secured upon its back a flexible strip or band 19, the ends of which may be folded over the tops and bottoms of the pockets whenassembled in the same plane, as shown in Fig. 3, and have the tips 20 of said ends inserted into slits 21 in the front of the pocket 7, this serving to secure the pockets in the one plane. The. band 19 may be dispensed with and the several pockets, in assembled or contracted form, be inserted in a rectangular cardboard case or cover 24:.

The pockets carry suitable marks such as North, South, etc., see Fig. 1,whereby the hands of partners may be designated. The lugs are made of such size that they are well able to support the pockets together with the cards 22, therein contained. The device may be used merely as a container for LII Ill)

the deck of cards. and it may also be used as a separator for the individual hands which it may be desired to retain separate, so that the same hands may be submitted to other players, to determine how they would play the same hands.

It will be noted that the lugs whereby the pockets are hingedly connected lodge in the openings formed in the walls of the pockets, when the pockets are contracted. In other \YQ'PdSythQ lugs are disposed within the three dimensions of the pockets or within the body lines of the pockets;

lVhat I claim is:

1. A case of the class described comprising a series of pockets, lugs integral witl' the pockets and struck therefrom whereby openings or recesses are formed in the walls otthe pockets, the lugs hingedly connecting thepockets for extending andcontracting the pockets and adapted to lodge in the recesses when the pockets are contracted, and a cover for the pockets.

2. A case of the class described comprising a series of pockets, lugs struck from the pockets and hingedly connected with the pockets along one of their edges, the lugs of adjacent pockets being. secured upon one another and bearing a relation such that the pockets may move upon their hinged connections to positions spaced one from the other instepped relation, and in immediate contact one upon the other, thc tops 01 all the pockets lying in the same plane.

3. A case of the class described comprising a series of pockets, lugs struck from the pockets and hingedly connected with the pockets along one of their edges, the lugs of adjacent pocketsbeing secured upon one another and bearing a relation such that the pockets may move upon their hinged connections to positions spaced one from the other in'stepped relation, andin immediate contact one upon the other, the tops of all 7 the pockets lying in the same plane, and a cover for the pockets adapted-to retain the pockets in the second mentionedposition.

l. In a. case of the class described the combination of a series of pockets comprising slotted fronts and backs and each adapted to contain a number of playing cards, lugs hingedly mount-ed 011 the fronts and backs of the pockets adapted to enter the slots, the lugs on the backs of the pockets being secured upon the lugs on the fronts of adjacent pockets, whereby the pockets may be retained in an extended relation spaced at a distance equal to the width of the lugs and in a contracted relation in which the front and back of adjacent pockets engage and the lugs on the fronts and backs lie-Within their respective slots.

5.111 a case of the class described the combination oi. a series ofpoclretscomprising slotted fronts and backs and each adapted to contain a number of playing cards, lugs hin-ged'ly mounted on the fronts. and backs the pockets adaptcdflto' enter the slots, the lugs on the backs of the pockets being secured upon the lugs on the fronts 01 adjacent pockets, whereby the pockets may be retained in an extended relation spaced at a distance equal to the width of the lugs and in a contracted relation in which the front and back of adjacent pockets engage and the lugs on the fronts and backs lie within their respective slots, and a cover tor the case adapted to retain the case in its contracted form.

6. A case of the class described comprising a series of pockets, means for extension from the body lines of the pockets and for entry witl'iin the body lines of the pockets for positioning the pockets in stepped relation and in a contracted relation respectively with the topso'l the pockets in the same plane when contracted, and a cover for retaining the POClGtS in their contracted relation.

7. A case of the class described compris ing a series of aligned pockets having their opposed outer taces exposed to adjacent pockets and logs extending from the opposed faces of the pockets tor pivotally connecting the adjacent pockets tor positioning the pockets in a stepped relation and in a contracted relation with the tops of the pockets in the same plane, the pockets having recesses for receiving the lugs when the pockets are contracted.

8. A case oftheclass described comprising a series-ot'aligned pocketshaving their opposed outer faces exposed to adjacent pockets and lugs extending from the opposed faces of the pockets for pivotally connecting the adjacent pockets for positioning the pockets in a stepped relation and in a contracted relation with the tops of the pockets in the same: plane, and a cover for retaining the pockets in a. contracted relation, the pockets having recesses for receiving the lugs when the pockets are contracted.

9. A case of the class described.compris ing a series of pockets, lugs integral with the pockets and struck therefrom whereby openings or recesses are formed in the walls of the pockets, the lugs hingcdly connecting the pockets for extending and contracting the pockets and adapted to lodge in the recesses when the pockets are contracted.

in testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this th day oi February, 1922.

CLIFFORD E, ALBERT. 

